Thanks for the support and a couple of questions

[Renee]

First thanks to those who responded to my long winded cry of desperation. I was wondering any hints on diet? Exhaustion? I find myself laying down most of the time or waiting to lay down I am so tired. I am stage IV but have NO intention of loosing this battle. How dare some little cells think they can stop me! I have beaten breast cancer I was 35. I am now 52. I admit I am confused as to diet, exercise, vitamins, I take Calcium and D. I have mets to the bone, liver and both lungs, although all are small spots, so they say. I have rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia I wonder without the pain if this would be easier? Any suggestions? God bless you all.
Renee

[Guest]

My name is Lee, I have joined in the past, but seems if I move around the computer, I get logged off, hate to keep logging in.

I was diagnosed 2 yr ago with stage 3 rectal cancer. At the beginning of everything, I had to see some type of couselor who gave me alot of advice. She recommonded that I not take anything over the counter (this included vit.) without my doctor's knowledge or consent. Regarding presc., make sure your doctor is aware of everything you take and why.

Try to eat healthy. They recommended I take drinks like Ensure if I was not eating healthy. During chemo, I found if I ate during the whole day (verse 3 meals a day) it kept nausea at bay. During chemo, I would eat what I wanted (because some foods were a turn off) with Ensure, then focus on healthy foods for those days I was off chemo. During chemo, your taste buds will change.

Don't know if your on chemo yet, but I would HIGHLY recommend drinking lots of water, liquid a day or two before each chemo treatment. I would aways read where someone was on treatment, ended up in the ER due to some problems only to learn they were dehydrated and that was causing the problem. On Chemo I did develope an aversion to water, so I would drink Gratoraide, OJ, coffee, and tons of soda. During Chemo, I would always have diahrea.

Positive attitude is very important. I would take one day each week or every other week and do what I wanted. Generally this meant shopping with a friend. Something to look forward to.

If your tired, REST, REST, REST. I would get my cheom Tues-Thrus. and would plan on sitting on the coach all most all day Friday, because I would be soooo tired.

Good luck, you can beat this

[Renee]

Lee,
I am on chemo and I do not have too many problems while I am getting infused. It is the days about 3-4 hours after they removed the pack then for 7-10 days after that I have spasms, diarrhea, absolute exhaustion, mouth sores, and joint pain (which I think is from the RA). I have gained wt. while on the chemo and don't have difficulty eating until AFTER they yank it. Then I loose the appetite and stuff tastes different. I have NO energy at all. Any suggestions for that? I really feel as if I don't have a life other than MD appointments and scans. I can't eat salads or too many veggies or I live in the bathroom. You were very kind to respond thanks,
Renee

[Guest]

Renee,

Lee here,Well you have problems opposite of me. It was while I was on chemo that I was nausea, had diahrea, etc. The week I was off I was able to function other than being tired. Am I correct to assume you have chemo every other week? What chemo are you taking? I too gained weight on chemo, I think because I snacked so much.

For advice, talk to your doctor or nurse. On those days you are nausea, drink at least 3 cans of Ensure daily, snack on ANY things that may sound good, especially bread, rice, etc. I would eat rice cakes, they actually tasted good. Drink lots of liquid, while I could drink tons of coffee, water would make me nausea (I think because coffee to me is a confort drink).

Plan on alots of rest, take things slow. I recently broke/sprained my foot. I must walk slow now wether I like it or not.

Will close here, I've got kids and piano lessons. will write more later..

Lee

[Guest]

Renee,

I'm back now

i'm not sure how far into the treatments you are in but I will admit with each passing treatment it did get harder and longer to recover.

Towards the end the the treatments, I pretty much lost all my hearing (due to water in/behind the ears). I was already seeing an ear specialist, and pretty much decided he was right, I need tubes in my ears, once that was done, hearing problem was gone.

If you don't have a project at home to keep you busy, find one. As I was heading into the last 2 mths of chemo, I decided to put my Dad's military career into order. This was something I could keep busy with, yet work at my own pace, and since I was losing my hearing, it was a good choice. It also gave me an opportunity/experience I would never had expected.

My father was killed in the Vietnam War when I was 13 yrs old. He was killed in a plane crash, 6 men died, 2 survived. My mother passed away a few yrs ago and I had acquired this mess of items. So I'm putting it into order and doing research on the internet. One day out of the nowhere, I see this article about a Shadow airplane. My dad was a Shadow in Vietnam, so I click on it, within the 1st paragraph, I knew I was reading about my dad's plane crash. It was written by one of the survivors.

The short version is that the other survivor of this plane crash lived in the Phoenix Metro area, as I do. This happened on a Tuesday, I was talking to him on Thrusday and my hubby and I were meeting he and his wife that Saturday. That article I had found was published with this Assocation. Men who flew these planes in Vietnam had put this organization together. Seem they have a reunion once a year. We went to our 1st reunion with them this past October.

Amazing that I found this article. Amazing what can happen with each turn in your life. I truly believe this was my dad's way of reaching/connecting with me.

Will close here, if I can help more, please let me know.

Lee

[Renee]

Hi Lee,
WOW, about your dad. He must be watching you real close. I know the feeling of having things dumped on you. My parents died 4 months apart, my dad did on New Years Eve of 2000...... my mother on Good Friday in April, 2000. I inherited the house and ALL its treasures, every check recipt they ever wrote, I swear! My daughter and I pulled our hair out for several years getting through this stuff and it still is not done. I was in graduate school although, they are kind to the elderly here (52) Ha.. I get chemo every 3rd week, my wbc's don't bounce back fast enough for every other. Not to mention I would NEVER get dressed if it were every other. I am on the 5-FU, Oxyplatin, Leucovorin, Zomata, and something else.... I will never be off, they are hoping that this will become a "chronic illness" but as far as stopping the chemo that won't happen, I was told that I might get a break for a week but that's all. My tumors are small although a great many places, I am counting on SMALL being a GOOD thing. I eat a lot of ice cream due to the mouth sores probably cause of wt. gain! LOL.... I don't really feel like eating much else. Piano lessons? I use to sing, actually sang for Berstein when I was a kid, with the Cleveland Orchestra. That was a hoot. My phone is ringing. I would love to hear more about your dad. That is really cool. Thanks for answering Lee, this is so lonely. Although I have 2 grown kids and friends they just don't get it.
Renee

[Renee]

Hi Lee,
WOW, about your dad. He must be watching you real close. I know the feeling of having things dumped on you. My parents died 4 months apart, my dad did on New Years Eve of 2000...... my mother on Good Friday in April, 2000. I inherited the house and ALL its treasures, every check recipt they ever wrote, I swear! My daughter and I pulled our hair out for several years getting through this stuff and it still is not done. I was in graduate school although, they are kind to the elderly here (52) Ha.. I get chemo every 3rd week, my wbc's don't bounce back fast enough for every other. Not to mention I would NEVER get dressed if it were every other. I am on the 5-FU, Oxyplatin, Leucovorin, Zomata, and something else.... I will never be off, they are hoping that this will become a "chronic illness" but as far as stopping the chemo that won't happen, I was told that I might get a break for a week but that's all. My tumors are small although a great many places, I am counting on SMALL being a GOOD thing. I eat a lot of ice cream due to the mouth sores probably cause of wt. gain! LOL.... I don't really feel like eating much else. Piano lessons? I use to sing, actually sang for Berstein when I was a kid, with the Cleveland Orchestra. That was a hoot. My phone is ringing. I would love to hear more about your dad. That is really cool. Thanks for answering Lee, this is so lonely. Although I have 2 grown kids and friends they just don't get it.
Renee

[Guest]

Renee,

If you would like to communicate more, please let me know here, I will try to get my email to you. I understant what you're going thru. I was not aware of this site when I was diagnosed, and going thru treatment, wish I had. If it wasn't for a few friends, I don't know what I would have done.

Let me know, this really is a great site and a great group of people.

Lee